India Special Economic Zones
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Geographical Aim: to gain an understanding of some of the arguments for and
against special economic zones in India.
Thinking skill: Classifying a document
TASK: Classify the information below taken from a web forum into arguments for or
against SEZ’s, by using a highlighter or colour coded system.
Why doesn't the government simply focus on providing basic amenities to the
people like water, health, primary education, power and roads? Controlled
economic growth would lead to more disparities rather than creating an equitable
society. Let the economy grow naturally and be handled by the private sector, as
happened in the software industry.
Madhu, India
We should make the approval process more stringent, where applicants for any
particular SEZ must prove that they intend to carry out that SEZ's specific
business (textiles, IT, biotech) and generate a stipulated number of jobs.
Nikhiel Silva,Bombay
India cannot continue to protect its farmers if it wants a modern future. Modern
countries do not have a large percentage of their workers farming out in the
field. The ones who do, find that it is expensive as they divert billions of dollars
from industries into farm subsidies. India must avoid such a future. The solution
is to compensate farmers for their lost land, but not with other farm plots as
their future is with manufacturing and technology.
SV, NYC, USA
I am an Indian living in Hong Kong and have seen the economic progress of
Shenzhen and Hong Kong prosper by the way of the SEZ. The idea of SEZ is
good.
Kalpesh, HongKong,China
Critics who are saying that SEZs is a land grabbing programme, should also see
the growth rate of agriculture, which stands at 3.2% against 11% for
manufacturing activities.
Viki Shah, Usa
The issue is not if to go the SEZ way, but rather to what extent and SEZs .Also
are the SEZs contributing to exports? Most businesses are only relocating there
rather than creating new businesses.
Vijay Bysani, Chennai, India
I am from the state of Andhra Pradesh which is allocating lot of lands to build
SEZs. Proper justice is not done to the poor farmers from whom government is
taking the land. The government is paying a meagre amount for these lands, while
not showing these uneducated people how to earn money elsewhere. India's quest
to compete with China shouldn't forget the basics - more than 80% people live
from the land, and by building SEZs on fertile land, it is neglecting its
hardworking farmers.
Lavanya, Worcester, MA, US
India needs these SEZs. There should be a fair acquisition plan which is properly
implemented. So far though, the government's record in this area is very poor.
My parents' property was compulsorily acquired in 1993, and they haven't
received full compensation even now.
Rajesh Alluri, Harrow, United Kingdom
Let's upgrade the poor infrastructure of existing industrial zones and declare
them as SEZs before we start worrying about creating new areas. The
government should invite direct investment in existing zones, and make them
competitive. Presently the infrastructure is poor in these existing zones and the
industries there are in run-down condition due to local levies and exorbitant
taxes. All this alongside talk of a "world class infrastructure" for SEZs.
Shafiq Ansari, Mumbai, INDIA
Very little thought is given to those from whom the land is taken or "bought" and
those that sustain their livelihood on that very piece of land. When agricultural
land is converted to SEZs, strict norms must be put in place to ensure that at
least 25% of the future revenue collected from these zones is allocated purely
for the education, socio-economic development and rehabilitation of those that
are displacedTrivikram Nileshwar, Rochester, MN, USA
Summary
Arguments for:
Arguments against